Great Eastern

[woodburner]

Dear Christian,

Many thanks for the quick reply and information. I looked at the Great Britain websites as well as a few of the GE websites and marked a few for later reading.

A good photograph of the GE's sternpost appears on page 95 of "Conway's History of the Ship: The Advent of Steam: the Merchant Steamship Before 1900." It depicts the sternpost and screw shaft without blades, presumably prior to launch. The text notes the stern frame's cellular iron construction, hydrodynamic sophistication and the streamlined stern and rudder posts.

Another diagram presents the differing types of screws fitted to the GB over her lifetime. A photo of the replica painted iron screw, a copy of the "as built" design, cured me of the golden propellor syndrome - red it is.

In regards to the funnel colors I notice pictures of the ship in its NY era dress (and thanks for allowing me now to spot this) have a medium tone funnel. I've been looking at a lot of colors in b/w photos lately as part of a project identifying the colors of American locomotives in the 19th century. In many cases, we can compare builder's specifications with tones on a b/w builder's image to determine how verious colors show up on photos - red darkest, blue next, then green and so on (this is why Cunarders show very dark funnels in pre 1900 era images). Photos of American railroad coaches (frequently painted yellows and buffs in the mid 19th century) are similar to the tones of the buff funnels of early White Star and German liners. Would it be possible for the GE's funnels to have been a grey-buff "fawn" color in the NY era trade, or is the grey or grey-green color described in contemporary accounts? I rarely come across greens in the funnel markings for the era, so thus the question (of course GE broke all rules).

I also have seen an engraving of the ship which shows light colored funnels in what appears to be passenger service fittings (lots of lifeboats, etc.) with five funnels. It has an all black hull, entirely cream or buff paddle boxes, railings of top of the boxes and what may be a house flag on the forward mast. Perhaps it dates from before the maiden voyage, and promotional. The image is in Kludas' "Record Breakers of the North Atlantic" page 26.

On a matter of aesthetics, it seems cream upper paddle boxes looked great on smaller ships like the GW, but an imposition on the mighty GE, esp as the cream line only went on the upper tip of the curve rather than accentuating the mass. Was this "frosting" and stripe applied at the desires of the new owners?

Enough questions, and thanks, Christian, for the great GE information. This is wonderful stuff and terrific to have.

Jim

[Christian]

Jim,

Just a few more things about the Great Eastern and the Revell kit.

Funnel colors: I mentioned light gray/green only because I have a fold out
diagram of the Great Eastern in her Maiden Voyage paint scheme showing
funnels in that color. It might be totally wrong though since the picture
has some other errors like the hand written draught marks. I believe those
were only drawn with white chalk during construction. The funnel color
question is hard, believe me me and my fellow modeler are doing exhaustive
research. We will list all sources and evidence about them rather than
giving a definite color. We are not able until now.

Please beware of judging the color by looking at old black and white
photographs. I read an article by Ken Marschall, the great marine painter
best known for his fantastic Titanic pictures. He really knows about marine
paint schemes.
Ken Marschall states that roughly until the 1920s all black and white film
was ortochromatic (responding differently to different colors). The accurate
panchromatic film as used nowadays didn't exist during the life span of the
Great Eastern.
The funnels, yellow trim line and the name Titanic and Olympic are very
dark on photos showing these vessels, but it was a bright, strong yellow in
reality. Later photos show the Olympic much lighter in these areas but the
White Star paint scheme didn't change. This was due to the introduction of
panchromatic film stock.

Jim, we are going to include a full review of the Revell model, 1963
original and 1980 re-issue. You might want to wait with assembly until we're
online. Can't tell when though.

Just one tip: watch out for the missing hawse holes at the bow. A major
error of the kit.

If you look for an accurate Great Eastern model be prepared for major
fixing and detail work. Don't get me started on the hull plating and the
wrong number of floats which should be 30 for each paddle wheel.

But then again maybe you would like to have an out-of-the box ship to pay
tribute to the Revell kit which is undoubtedly a collector's item and a very
fine kit considered the molds dating from 1963.

Of course all I do is trying to help. I sincerely hope I was able to do so.

Happy modeling, all

Christian

[woodburner]

Christian,

Many thanks for the additional info regarding the Great Eastern's funnel colors. It looks like grey green is the way to go! I've reconstructed a few variants on a computer program in different shades and posted them under the paddle ducks files for "Great Eastern funnel colours, 1860. They actually look attractive. If you have an opinion which is closest to your diagram I would be greatly appreciative. Also, what were the steam pipes finished in?

The model arrived today and I've just spent some time pouring over her mysteries. I can already see what you mean about the changes. No doubt many tiggering questions to come (what were the lifeboat finished as, etc.). The fifth funnel should be simple to mold and cast.

Indeed, "tribute" is the best way to describe the model, and no doubt she will look quite good in her maiden livery.

Thanks,

Jim

[woodburner]

Christian,

I just looked at the great selection of GE images on the this file site - the smashing watercolor cutaway, the dockside photo with a hotel coach in the foreground, the elegant "Armada" style lithograph and the entering harbor sketch in particular.

First off, I think I can identify the location of the dockside photo and the entering harbor image as both in New York, the former from the hotel coach (identifiable as built by Abbott, Downing & Co. of Concord, New Hampshire) and the engraving by virture of the style of surrounding steamboats and what appears to be the Battery of Lower Manhattan on the right.

The "Armada" image (my term, the image recalls the 16th century style of galleon painting) shows the grey-green funnels with black tops, as does the dockside photo, clearly upon the forward funnel. The watercolor cutaway was less helpful, as it depicts the inside of the funnels in cutaway (look at the shadows of the funnel rims inside) although the grey green may be accurate for the outside - one suspects the insides got sooty black right quick!

I may revise the favorable opinion of the early color scheme. The NY era white stripe looks horrible, a sailing tradition imposed upon the giant hull. Perhaps given the mismanagement that marked her early career one can expect bad taste in hull painting as well.

Regards,

Jim